Taiwan operates a unified emergency number system. Dial 110 for police assistance and 119 for fire and ambulance services from any phone without area code or charges. The system handles calls in Mandarin Chinese primarily, with limited English capability depending on operator and location. In Taipei and major urban centers, operators with English language skills are more consistently available than in rural townships. The National Fire Agency manages the 119 system across all counties and cities. Response times in Taipei average under six minutes for urban districts. In mountainous areas including sections of Taroko National Park or remote eastern townships, response times extend substantially due to terrain and road conditions.
The Tourism Bureau maintains a dedicated 24-hour toll-free hotline at 0800-011-765 for foreign visitors, offering assistance in English, Japanese, Korean, and Mandarin. This line handles non-emergency inquiries, translation assistance, and can coordinate with emergency services when language barriers exist. The service operates from a call center in Taipei with direct links to police departments nationwide.
Taiwan's Coast Guard operates a separate emergency number at 118 for maritime incidents, covering territorial waters around the main island and offshore territories including Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu. The service coordinates search and rescue operations along 1,566 kilometers of coastline.
Taiwan's National Health Insurance system covers citizens and foreign residents but excludes short-term visitors. Foreign nationals without residency pay cash rates typically ranging from 300 to 500 Taiwan dollars for outpatient consultations at public hospitals, with additional fees for procedures, medications, and diagnostics. Private hospitals charge higher rates, often double or triple public facility costs.
Major medical centers with English-speaking staff and international patient departments operate in Taipei including National Taiwan University Hospital established 1895, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, and Mackay Memorial Hospital founded by Canadian missionary George Leslie Mackay in 1880. These facilities maintain 24-hour emergency departments. Chang Gung Memorial Hospital operates branches in Linkou, Taipei, and Kaohsiung, forming Taiwan's largest private hospital system with over 10,000 beds total. China Medical University Hospital in Taichung provides similar capabilities in central Taiwan.
Pharmacies throughout Taiwan dispense prescription medications only with valid prescriptions from Taiwanese-licensed physicians. Over-the-counter medications including basic pain relievers, cold medicines, and antihistamines are available at pharmacies displaying the green cross symbol and at some convenience stores. Many common Western medications sell under different brand names. The active ingredient appears on packaging in Chinese characters and sometimes English. Watsons and Cosmed pharmacy chains operate English-language capable stores in major cities. Pharmacists in rural areas rarely speak English.
Taiwan prohibits importing medications containing pseudoephedrine, codeine, and morphine derivatives without advance approval from the Food and Drug Administration. Travelers carrying prescription medications should retain original packaging, physician letters in English, and limit quantities to reasonable personal use duration. Japanese cold medications frequently contain prohibited substances.
Taiwan uses the New Taiwan Dollar with symbol NT$ or TWD. Bills circulate in denominations of 100, 200, 500, 1,000, and 2,000, with coins of 1, 5, 10, and 50 dollars. The Central Bank of the Republic of China issues all currency. The 2,000 dollar note appears rarely in daily transactions.
ATMs accepting international cards operate extensively in Taipei, Taichung, Tainan, and Kaohsiung, with decreasing availability in smaller townships. Machines displaying Plus, Cirrus, Visa, or Mastercard logos accept foreign cards. Most ATMs limit withdrawals to 20,000 or 30,000 Taiwan dollars per transaction with daily maximums of 40,000 dollars common. Banks typically charge 100 dollar fees per withdrawal, plus home bank foreign transaction fees. English language interface options exist on most urban ATMs.
7-Eleven convenience stores operate FamiPort ATM services accepting international cards at approximately 6,000 locations. These machines charge slightly higher fees around 110 dollars per transaction. Family Mart stores provide similar services through FamiPort terminals.
Currency exchange services operate at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport 24 hours with rates approximately 1-2 percent less favorable than downtown bank rates. Bank of Taiwan maintains exchange counters in both terminals. Downtown exchange services cluster around Taipei Main Station and in Ximending district. Hotels provide exchange at notably poor rates, often 5 percent below market.
Credit cards see widespread acceptance in cities at establishments displaying card logos, with Visa and Mastercard more universally accepted than American Express or Discover. Night markets, traditional restaurants, small shops, and rural businesses operate cash-only. The Taipei Metro accepts only cash or stored-value EasyCard, not credit cards. High-speed rail stations accept credit cards for ticket purchases.
Taiwan's four major mobile carriers—Chunghwa Telecom, Taiwan Mobile, Far EasTone, and Taiwan Star Telecom—provide nationwide 4G coverage and expanding 5G networks in major cities. Prepaid SIM cards designed for tourists sell at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport immediately after customs clearance, typically priced 300 to 500 dollars for packages including 3 to 5 days of unlimited data. Extended plans for 7, 10, 15, or 30 days cost proportionally more. Purchasing requires presenting a passport. Installation assistance is provided. These SIM cards include local phone numbers enabling calls within Taiwan.
Chunghwa Telecom holds the largest market share and provides most extensive coverage in mountainous regions including Taroko Gorge, Alishan, and Yushan trails. Coverage gaps exist on certain mountain routes above 2,000 meters and in the East Rift Valley's more remote sections.
Public WiFi networks operate throughout Taipei Metro stations, buses, and in designated zones across major cities under the Taipei Free and iTaiwan systems. Registration requires providing an email address or foreign mobile number for SMS verification. Connection quality varies substantially. Many coffee shops, restaurants, and shopping malls provide password-protected WiFi to customers.
Taiwan operates on 110 volts at 60 Hz, matching North American standards. Wall outlets accept flat two-prong Type A plugs and three-prong Type B grounded plugs. Outlets do not accommodate European Type C, British Type G, or Australian Type I plugs without adapters. Hotels sometimes provide adapters at front desks in limited quantities. Electronics stores throughout cities sell universal adapters for 150 to 400 dollars depending on build quality.
Devices designed for 220-240 volt systems including many European and British electronics require voltage converters if they lack internal switching power supplies. Modern phone chargers and laptop adapters typically handle 110-240 volts automatically, indicated on the device specifications. Hairdryers and heating appliances often require converters.
Taiwan's municipal water undergoes treatment meeting WHO standards, but local practice universally involves boiling water before drinking. Hotels provide electric kettles in rooms. Restaurants serve hot water or hot tea rather than tap water. Drinking directly from taps is uncommon among residents and not recommended for visitors due to potential contamination in building pipes rather than municipal supply. Bottled water sells at convenience stores for 15 to 25 dollars per 600ml bottle.
Public restrooms in Taiwan vary dramatically in quality. Taipei Metro stations maintain clean facilities with soap, paper, and sometimes bidets. Night markets and traditional market areas often provide squat toilets with inconsistent cleanliness and paper supply. Carrying tissue packets is standard practice. Many older buildings request depositing used toilet paper in waste bins rather than flushing due to plumbing limitations. This practice continues in traditional restaurants, older temples, and rural areas. Modern shopping malls, international hotels, and newer buildings permit flushing paper.
Taiwan High Speed Rail operates a 24-hour customer service line at 4066-3000 from mobile phones or 02-4066-3000 from landlines. The service handles booking issues, lost items, and emergency situations on trains running from Nangang Taipei to Zuoying Kaohsiung. Taiwan Railways Administration maintains a similar hotline at 0800-765-888 for the conventional rail network covering the island's circumference and interior routes.
Taipei Metro's 24-hour service hotline operates at 02-218-12345 in Mandarin with limited English capability. Station staff at major interchanges including Taipei Main Station, Zhongxiao Fuxing, and Taipei 101/World Trade Center typically include English speakers. Kaohsiung Metro provides information at 07-793-8888.